Ofsted inspectors tell school bosses they must improve education standards

A school which caters for pupils who have faced 'significant challenges in their lives' has been told it must improve following an inspection by Ofsted.

Inspectors visiting Safe Start School in Old Street, Ashton, said the quality of education and leadership at the 30-student unit needs urgent improvement.

Many pupils at the school have suffered difficulties which have left them with 'large gaps in their learning' and have a 'negative' attitude to education.

Lead inspector Ben Hill praised staff for their work in changing some of these attitudes.

He said: "Staff gently support pupils to put any prior negative experiences of school behind them.

"In turn, pupils come to appreciate education once more. They build trusting relationships with their teachers and gradually increase the time they spend at school. Many pupils are well on the way to successfully re-engaging with their education."

All pupils at the school have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) and Mr Hill said the school 'typically sets them up well for adulthood'. However, he added: "The school's ambition for pupils' academic achievement is not fully realised. Pupils do not learn the curriculum as well as they should."

The report adds that staff and pupils have experienced a 'turbulent' period in recent years due to a series of leadership changes which brought instability which had a 'detrimental' effect on behaviour and attitudes to learning.

However, Mr Hill said, had managed to turn things around.

He said: "The proprietor has recruited new leaders with the expertise necessary to bring about positive changes.

"Their decisive action has quickly ensured that the school is a calm environment where pupils can learn."

The report said some improvements were taking longer to have a positive impact.

Strategies to improve attendance have only recently been implemented, said Mr Hill, with some pupils' attendance remaining 'stubbornly low'.

Standards of education were also criticised. 

The report said: "The school's sharp focus on functional skills means that pupils typically gain qualifications in English and mathematics which help them into positive college destinations.

"In most other subjects, pupils learn inconsistently. Most staff do not have a secure knowledge of the subjects they are employed to teach

"Some pupils have gaps in their knowledge. They struggle to make sense of new learning."

The inspection also criticised the school's monitoring of fire safety risks saying it lacked 'rigour' although it conceded pupils were not at harm.